Sewing machine having rotatable and axially movable frame

Abstract

A quilting machine includes a base having three bridges; a sewing head secured to the upper bridge; a cylindrically shaped frame slidably and rotatably mounted on the lower two bridges, the frame including first and second end assemblies spaced from each other on the lower bridges, each having a support casting slidably mounted on the base and a ring rotatably mounted on a support casting, each ring including circumferential gear teeth, gears meshing with the gear teeth and extending from the support castings for supporting the rings, a plurality of first and second telescoping rods secured to the first and second end assemblies, at least one first telescoping rod screw-threadedly receiving a second telescoping rod, and at least one first and second telescoping rod rotatably fixed and axially movable with respect to each other, a gear secured to each of the latter in meshing engagement with the gear teeth of the respective rings; a mechanism for rotating the axially movable and rotatably fixed first and second telescoping rods to rotate the rings; an elongation mechanism for rotating one of the first and second screw-threaded telescoping rods to change the length of the frame; a rack and pinion assembly for axially moving the frame along the lower bridges of the base; clamps secured to the outer circumference of each ring for clamping fabric to the frame; and two piston-cylinder assemblies for closing or opening the clamps during rotation of the rings.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A quilting machine comprising: (a) a base;   (b) a substantially cylindrically shaped frame slidably and rotatably mounted on said base, said frame including: (i) a first end assembly;   (ii) a second end assembly;   (iii) each end assembly having a support member slidably mounted on said base and a ring rotatably mounted on the respective support member, each ring having a plurality of gear teeth spaced therearound;   (iv) said first and second end assemblies spaced from each other on said base;   (v) a plurality of first telescoping rods secured to said first end assembly and extending toward said second end assembly;   (vi) a plurality of second telescoping rods secured to said second end assembly and extending toward said first end assembly;   (vii) each first telescoping rod telescopically receiving a respective second telescoping rod;   (viii) at least one first telescoping rod screw-threadedly receiving at least one respective second telescoping rod;   (ix) at least one first and second telescoping rod rotatably fixed and axially movable with respect to each other; and   (x) a gear on each of said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods in mating engagement with said gear teeth of said rings;     (c) rotation means for rotating said rings with respect to said support members and including first rod rotation means for rotating said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods;   (d) elongation means for changing the length of said frame, including second rod rotation means for rotating at least one screw-threaded rod; and   (e) frame moving means for axially moving the frame along said base, said frame moving means including a rack having gear teeth mounted on said base, a gear rotatably mounted on said frame in meshing engagement with the teeth of said rack, and control means for controlling rotation of said gear to move said frame along said base.   
     
     
       2. A quilting machine according to claim 1; wherein said base includes first and second end supports and at least one bridge extending between said end supports; and said frame is slidably mounted on said at least one bridge. 
     
     
       3. A quilting machine according to claim 2; further comprising a shaft mounted on opposite sides of at least one bridge and at least two bearing assemblies secured to each support member for slidably mounting said support members on said shafts. 
     
     
       4. A quilting machine according to Claim 3; wherein said control means includes motor means for rotating said gear which is mounted on said frame, to move said frame along said shafts. 
     
     
       5. A quilting machine according to claim 2; wherein there are three bridges extending between said end supports. 
     
     
       6. A quilting machine according to claim 1; wherein each ring includes said plurality of gear teeth spaced along an inner circumference thereof; and further comprising means for rotatably mounting each said ring on a respective support member, said means for rotatably mounting including a plurality of gears rotatably secured to each support member in meshing engagement with the gear teeth of said respective rings. 
     
     
       7. A quilting machine according to claim 1; wherein said elongation means includes means for rotating a plurality of screw-threaded rods in synchronism with each other. 
     
     
       8. A quilting machine according to claim 7; wherein said means for rotating in synchronism includes a gear mounted to each threaded rod extending from one side of said frame, a chain drive wrapped about said gears and motor means for moving said chain drive. 
     
     
       9. A quilting machine comprising: (a) a base;   (b) a substantially cylindrically shaped frame slidably and rotatably mounted on said base, said frame including: (i) a first end assembly;   (ii) a second end assembly;   (iii) each end assembly having a support member slidably mounted on said base and a ring rotatably mounted on the respective support member, each ring having a plurality of gear teeth spaced therearound;   (iv) said first and second end assemblies spaced from each other on said base;   (v) a plurality of first telescoping rods secured to said first end assembly and extending toward said second end assembly;   (vi) a plurality of second telescoping rods secured to said second end assembly and extending toward said first end assembly;   (vii) each first telescoping rod telescopically receiving a respective second telescoping rod;   (viii) at least one first telescoping rod screw-threadedly receiving at least one respective second telescoping rod;   (ix) at least one first and second telescoping rod rotatably fixed and axially movable with respect to each other; and   (x) a gear on each of said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods in mating engagement with said gear teth of said rings;     (c) rotation means for rotating said rings with respect to said support members and including first rod rotation means for rotating said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods;   (d) elongation means for changing the length of said frame, including second rod rotation means for rotating at least one screw-threaded rod;   (e) frame moving means for axially moving the frame along said base;   (f) a plurality of clamp means secured to the outer circumference of each ring for clamping fabric to said frame; and   (g) clamp actuation means for controlling said plurality of clamp means to selectively clamp or unclamp said fabric with respect to said rings during rotation of said rings.   
     
     
       10. A quilting machine according to claim 9; wherein said clamp actuation means includes first piston-cylinder means for actuating each clamp means to clamp said fabric to said rings as each said clamp means travels thereby, and second piston-cylinder means for actuating each clamp means to release said fabric from said rings as each clamp means travels thereby. 
     
     
       11. A quilting machine according to claim 10; wherein each said clamping means includes an actuating arm, said first piston-cylinder means is positioned above said actuating arm for biasing the latter in a first direction as each said clamp means travels thereby, and said second piston-cylinder means is positioned beneath said actuation arm of each said clamp means as the latter travels thereby for biasing said actuating arm in a second, opposite direction. 
     
     
       12. A quilting machine according to Claim 11; wherein a roller is rotatably secured to the free end of each piston of said first and second piston-cylinder means. 
     
     
       13. A quilting machine comprising: (a) a base;   (b) a substantially cylindrically shaped frame slidably and rotatably mounted on said base, said frame including: (i) a first end assembly;   (ii) a second end assembly;   (iii) each end assembly having a support member slidably mounted on said base and a ring rotatably mounted on the respective support member, each ring having a plurality of gear teeth spaced therearound;   (iv) said first and second end assemblies spaced from each other on said base;   (v) a plurality of first telescoping rods secured to said first end assembly and extending toward said second end assembly;   (vi) a plurality of second telescoping rods secured to said second end assembly and extending toward said first end assembly;   (vii) each first telescoping rod telescopically receiving a respective second telescoping rod;   (viii) at least one first telescoping rod screw-threadedly receiving at least one respective second telescoping rod;   (ix) at least one first and second telescoping rod rotatably fixed and axially movable with respect to each other; and   (x) a gear on each of said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods in mating engagement with said gear teth of said rings;     (c) rotation means for rotating said rings with respect to said support members and including first rod rotation means for rotating said first and second rotatably fixed and axially movable telescoping rods;   (d) elongation means for changing the length of said frame, including second rod rotation means for rotating at least one screw-threaded rod;   (e) frame moving means for axially moving the frame along said base;   (f) flexible frame means having opposite flexible edges and a plurality of clamps spaced along said flexible edges for clamping a fabric therebetween;   (g) a plurality of clamp means secured to the outer circumference of each ring for clamping said flexible frame means to said frame; and   (h) clamp actuation means for controlling said plurality of clamp means to selectively clamp or unclamp said flexible frame means with respect to said rings during rotation of said rings.   
     
     
       14. A quilting machine according to claim 13; wherein said clamp actuation means includes first piston-cylinder means for actuating each clamp means to clamp said flexible frame means to said rings as each said clamp means travels thereby, and second piston-cylinder means for actuating each clamp means to release said flexible frame means from said rings as each clamp means travels thereby. 
     
     
       15. A quilting machine according to claim 14; wherein each said clamping means includes an actuating arm, said first piston-cylinder means is positioned above said actuating arm for biasing the latter in a first direction as each said clamp means travels thereby, and said second piston-cylinder means is positioned beneath said actuation arm of each said clamp means as the latter travels thereby for biasing said actuating arm in a second, opposite direction. 
     
     
       16. A quilting machine according to claim 15; wherein a roller is rotatably secured to the free end of each piston of said first and second piston-cylinder means. 
     
     
       17. A quilting machine according to claim 13; wherein said flexible frame means is adjustable in width.